Woke to a fantastic warm morning with another day of exploring the local surroundings arranged by Jude, the first part is the Upper Matakitaki to cross over the Maruia Saddle to Burnbrae where it meets Hwy 65 where the Lewis Pass comes out exits heading west. As per the day before it was what Jude and I considered a easy road which at this time of the year can comfortably be done in a average car… give or take the odd pan strike from one of the very few small rocks that may have strayed from their historical resting place to the middle of the road. The views were really beautiful, thick native forest and bush with steep drop offs from the road down to the many small streams far below. All in all a lovely drive through some amazing native forest, climbing 330 meters to 566 meters, quite windy with sharp hairpin turns on both up and down sections. We returned to Murchison via hwy 65 stopping at the Maruia Falls… a common and favourite location for whitewater kayakers, unfortunately we didn’t get their in time to see them come over the 10 meter high falls. We then continued on our way towards Murchison and on to the west side of the Matakitaki river, stopping about 10 km up the valley for lunch and a spot of fishing for Jude. With lunch over we continued up the Matakitaki Valley only to find the road entered private property and access is not possible… oh well these are the things you find out on the travels. Tomorrow we are hiking it to Lake Matiri.